Headlines

Is Jonathan Drouin closing in on No. 1?

by
NHL.com Staff
/ NHL.com

In the initial mock drafts by NHL.com staffers on Monday, defenseman Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks and Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads were unanimous picks to go first and second at the 2013 NHL Draft in Newark, N.J.

Of late, Drouin has been an absolute beast in the absence of MacKinnon, who has missed the past seven games with a lower-body injury. The team is hopeful MacKinnon (28 goals, 69 points, plus-37 rating) will return to the lineup early next month.

Drouin is currently riding a 23-game point streak that began Nov. 30, 2012. Over that span, he's accounted for 21 goals and 53 points, including seven goals and 21 points in the past seven games on a line with center Stephen MacAulay and wing Martin Frk. He leads the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 93 points and is second with a plus-41 rating in 42 games.

With those types of numbers, many feel Drouin is on a fast track to pass MacKinnon and Jones as the top pick? What do you think?

Should Drouin be considered a strong candidate as the first pick? You decide.